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  What it means

  Literally “bitter laments.” A traditional Polish Catholic devotion performed during Lent, consisting of hymns of sorrow and repentance. Figuratively used to describe prolonged, bitter complaining or lamenting.

  Vocabulary

  • gorzkie — bitter (plural adjective)
  • żale — laments, grievances, sorrows (plural of 'żal')

  Grammar note

  'Gorzkie' is a plural adjective agreeing with 'żale' (neuter plural).

  Cultural context

  Gorzkie Żale is a uniquely Polish devotion, created in Warsaw in 1707. The figurative use — 'odprawiać gorzkie żale' (to perform bitter laments, i.e. to complain endlessly) — is very common.

  Intermediate

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